Self-lifting sadiron



Parental). 1, g 1936 SELF-LIFTING SADIBON Allen F. Kipper, Glendale, and Louis B. Tuckerman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Continental Fire-Proof Iron Corp., a corporation of Arizona Application July 5, 1935, Serial No. 29,948

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to and has for a principal object the provision of a sad iron, preferably but not necessarily of the electrically heated type, and

provided with means associated with the handle 5 of the iron for automatically lifting the base of the iron substantially above a supporting surface when pressure on the handle is released and for supporting the'iron in raised position when not in use.

10 A more detailed object is to provide a simple,

effective and durable structure whereby the lifting device may be supplied as a part of an iron without materially increasing the cost over the usual type of sad irons, and for reducing the number of parts to a minimum. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

An important feature of our invention consists in so mounting and forming the lifting means with angularly disposed .arms with interconnecting rounded heel portions whereby when the iron is raised 'or lowered the lifting means will be caused to roll on the supporting surface for the iron and effect a corresponding longitudinal movement of the iron.

We have shown a preferred form of device in the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sad iron embodying our improvements with the lifting device operative for supporting the iron in raised position;

6 Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the lifting device arranged for supporting the base of the iron on a suitable surface;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the' same on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 1 35 Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the sad iron; Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the iron handle on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and '7 are transverse sections on lines 66 and 1-1, respectively, of Fig. 2.

40 Our improved sad iron includes a conventional base I and a handle 2 spaced from said base and supported at opposite ends by means of straps 3 and 4. Said straps have vertically formed portions 5 and 6, respectively, which are attached to 45 the ends of the handle 2 by means of screws as at 'l, I, and their lower extremities are suitably attached to the top of the base I by means of screws The lifting device includes an auxiliary handle 9 of channelled cross section adapted to overlie the handle 2, an upper toggle member l and a pair of lower toggle members H, II, which are pivotally connected at l2 and a sp he d od 55 I3 slidably supported in the handle 2 and pivoted tends lengthwise of the handle at l2 to the toggles l0 and l l.

and2.

Handle 9 is pivotally supported on handle 2 at the front end of the iron at l4 preferably by means of an internal channel bar l which is welded at 5 points Hi to the web of the handle S'and ears 5' 'formed on and inwardly turned from the portion 5 of the handle strap3. The'cha'nnel bar l5 exnd is pivotally ogg'le member In 10 normal position,

nds of the toggle :ent the rear end connected at H with the upper so thatwhen the handle B-i's, as shown in Fig. 1, the pivoted members in and II will be .adjj of handle 2. g

Rod I3 is slidable in a bore l8; f: handle 2 and has a. compression spring [9 heldthereon between a nut and the portion 8..of;strap,-4 whereby the toggle is spring urged intoithepb'sltion shown in Fig. 1. Toggle members 1.1 are pivotally held at 2|, 2l, on .opposite sides "of: thiron base I and 0 have arms 2|, 2 l and feet 22,1522, extended downwardly at corresponding angles from their fulcrums 2|, 2|, which, whenjlie handle 2 is released, are swung downwardly into horizontal planes parallel with thebase?! of the iron by the tension of spring [9 and serve to raise the iron into the position shownin-lFig; 2 from a supporting surface 23. Intermediate feet -22 and arms 2| are rounded heel portions 22 =on which the iron rocks when the same-israised and lowered,

in a rolling movement,'so as to reduce resistance and facilitate the operation ofthe lifting means. Y

Portion 6 of strap '4 has an elongated slot 24 therein through which rod I3 is extended and the outer end of said rod is flattened at 25 and has an elongated slot 26 therein for receiving the hinge pin 12, so that when the toggle device is operated the rod l3'will not bind on the strap 4 or the pin !2. Preferably the toggle III is of channelled cross section and is adapted to nest in the channel of member l5 when the handle 9 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper side of handle 2 is provided with a channel 21 which is adapted to receive the member IS in such event.. In operation, it is obvious that when the handle is released the tension of spring l9 will 'draw the toggle joint l2 inwardly to a point adjacent the rear end of the handle and simultaneously depress the feet 22 of the toggle members II, II, so

that the base I -of the iron will be automatically raised above the supporting surface 23, thereby preventing the burning of the cloth on said surface and eliminating the necessity for placing the iron on a plate. as in ordinary cases.

When the iron is grasped in the hands'of a user and pressure is applied to handle 9 said handle is moved downwardly until it embraces the handle 2 of the iron, thereby elevating the feet 22 and lowering the iron base I upon the'supporting surface 23.

The toggle arrangement shown and described provides a minimum range of -movement for handle 9 in raising and lowering the iron and substantially simplifies the operation and use of the iron as compared with other devices for the same purpose. The fulcrum points 22 are so positioned that the iron when raised above the supporting surface 23 will remain in a horizontal position. In order to prevent the iron from remaining in an upright position in the event it maybe dropped on the floor we provide a plate rear end of the base with the floor. raised the heels 22' of the lifting means roll on 30 attached at an end to the rear end of base I by means of a screw or screws 3| and having an outwardly projecting portion 32 so formed that regardless of in what position the iron might light upon the floor it will be restored to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 and thereby prevent a fire as a result of the contact of the As the iron is the surface on which the iron rests while the iron moves backwardly until it finally rests upon the surface 23 and the lifts are further elevated to the position shown in Figure 2. When the iron is lowered the heels 22' first engage the surface 23 and roll thereon until the feet 22 assume the position shown in Figure 1, the iron moving forwardly until it assumes a position of rest.

Thus, an iron such as we have disclosed herein is fire-proof and safe, labor saving and durable.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a handle, an operating member pivotally held on said handle, and lifting means including toggle members slidably and pivotally connected at a joint thereof to said handle, one of said toggle members being connected with said operating member, another of said toggle members being hinged to said base and having means engaging said supporting surface for supporting said base out of contact with said surface when said handle is released.

2. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to engage a supporting surface, a handle on said base, an auxiliary handle pivotally attached to said handle and forming an operating member, and a lifting device including a link pivotally secured to said operating member and a pair of levers having upwardly extended arms and depending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base and pivotally connected through said arms with said link, the feet of said levers being adapted to engage said supporting surface, and means on said handle for tensioning said link and, said levers for raising said base out of contact with said supporting surface when said handle' is released.

3. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base pivotally secured to said operating member and a pair of levers having upwardly extended arms and depending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base and pivotally con-- feet of said levers being adapted to engage said supporting surface, and means on said handle for tensioning said link and said levers for raising said base out of contact with said supporting surface when said handle is released, said auxiliary handle being of arcuate cross section and adapted to overlie said handle when said feet are inoperative.

4. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to engage a supporting surface, a handle on said base, an auxiliary handle pivotallly attached to said handle and forming an operating member, and a lifting device including a-link pivotally secured to said operating member and a pair of levers having upwardly extended arms and depending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base and pivotally connected through said arms with said link, the feet of said levers being adapted to engage said supporting surface, means on said handle for tensioning said link and said levers for raising said base out of contact with said supporting surface when said handle is released, and means attached to an end of said sad iron and cooperating with said feet for preventing contact of said base with said supporting surface when said auxiliary handle is released.

5. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to engage a supporting surface, a handle on said base, an auxiliary handle pivotally attached to said handle and forming an operating member, and a lifting device including a link pivotally secured to said operating member and a pair of levers having upwardly extended arms and depending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base and pivotally con-. nected through said arms with said link, the feet of said levers being adapted to engage said supporting surface, and means on said handle fortensioning said link and said levers for raising said base out of contact with said supporting surface when said handle is released, said feet being disposed substantially parallel to the bottom of said base when said base is in raised position.

6. A- self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface during an ironing operation, a handle spaced from said base, an operating member of arcuate cross section hinged to an end of said handle and adapted to overlie the handle when in depressed position, a tensioning means mounted within said handle, and a toggle having one member pivoted intermediate its ends to said base, the joint of said toggle being connected with said tensioning means, and the other member connected with said operating member, said first mentioned toggle member including a foot on each side of said base for raising said base, out of contact with its supporting surface when said operating member and said handle are released and operable for lowering said base into contact with said surface when said operating member is depressed.

'7. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface during an ironing operation, a handle spaced from said base, an operating member of arcuate cross section hinged to an end of said handle and adapted to overlie the handle when in depressed position, a tensioning means mounted within said handle, and toggle means having one member thereof formed at its lower ends with a pair of feet positioned respectively at opposite sides of said base, said toggle means being connected to said tensioning means, whereby said toggle means is operated to depress said feet against said supporting surface for raising said base out of contact with its supporting surface when said operating member and said handle are released and operable for lowering said base into contact with said surface when said operating member is depressed, said first mentioned member of said toggle means being hinged intermediate its ends to said base at the end of said sad iron opposite from the fulcrum of said operating member.

8. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface during an ironing operation, a handle spaced from said base, an operating member of arcuate cross sec-- tion hinged to an end of said handle and adapted to overlie the handle when in depressed position, a tensioning means mounted within said handle, and toggle 'means formed at its lower ends with a pair of feet positioned respectively at opposite sides of said base, said toggle means being connected to said tensioning means, whereby said toggle means is operated to depress said feet against said supporting surface for raising said base out of contact with its supporting surface when said operating member and said handle are released and operable for lowering said base into contact with said surface when said operating member is depressed, said toggle means including extensions from said feet, said extensions being pivoted intermediate their ends to said base and a single link commonly connected with said extensions and also pivoted to said operating member, said tensioning means including a spring tensioned between said handle and the joint beween said link and said extensions.

9. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface during an ironing operation, a handle spaced from said base, an operating member of arcuate cross section hinged to an end of said handle and adapted to overlie the handle when in depressed position, a tensioning means mounted within said handle, and toggle means formed at its lower ends with a pair of feet positioned respectively at opposite sides of said base, said toggle means being connected to said tensioning means, whereby said toggle means is operated to depress said feet against said'supporting surface for raising said base out of contact with its supporting surface when said operating member and said handle are released and operable for lowering said base into contact with said surface when said operating member is depressed, said toggle means ineluding extensions from said feet, said extensions being pivoted intermediate their ends to said base and a single link commonly connected with said extensions and also pivoted to said operating member, said tensioning means including a spring tensioned between. said handle and the joint between said link and said extensions, said handle being channelled to provide a seat for said link when said operating member is depressed.

10. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a base, a pair of laterally spaced feet pivotally attached to an end thereof and having upwardly projecting extensions, a link pivotally secured to the upper extremities of said extensions, a handle secured to said base, an operating member pivotally attached to an end of said handle and hinged to said link, and tensioning means carried by said handle and connected with said extensions for automatically swinging said extensions and depressing said feet against a surface for elevating said base above said surface when said operating member is released.

11. A self-lifting sad ironcomprising: a base, a pair of laterally spaced feet pivotally attached to an end thereof and having upwardly projecting extensions, a link pivotally secured tothe upper extremities of said extensions, a handle se cured to said base, an operating member pivotally attached to an end of said handle and hinged to said link, and tensioning means carried by said handle and connected with said extensions for automatically swinging said extensions and' rlepressing said feet against a surface for elevate ing said base above said surface when said 05 erating member-is released, said feet being dis-.'\ posed longitudinally of said base when said operating member is free and elevated above the bottom of said base when the operating memberis depressed. 12. A self-lifting sad iron comprising: a'base, a handle attached thereto, an operating member hinged to said handle and formed to overlie the handle when in-depressed position, a link pivotally secured to and at a point intermediate the ends of said operating member, a pair of levers having upwardly extending arms and depending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base, said'arms being hinged to said link, and tensioning means carried by said handle and operatively connected with said link and said arms for automatically swinging said levers for disposing said feet in position for supporting said base out of contact with a supporting-surface when said operating member is released and tensionable when said member is depressed to lower said base into contact with its supporting surface. f

13. A self-lifting sad iron comprising; a base, a handle attached thereto, an operating member. hinged to said handle and formed tooverlie the handle when in depressed position, 'a lin'k pivot-- ally secured to and at a point intermediate the ends of said operating member, a pair of" levers having upwardly extending arms and'fdepending feet hinged at intermediate points to opposite sides of said base, said arms being. hinged to said link, and tensioning means carried by said handle and operatively connected with said link and said arms for automatically swinging said levers for disposing said feet in position for supporting said base out of contact with a supporting surface when said operating member is released and tensionable when said member is depressed to lower said base into contact with its supporting surface, said handle having a channel therein for receiving said link when said operating member is depressed.

14. A sad iron including an operating member movably mounted thereon, a base, an operating member carried by said base, toggle means formed with feet, said toggle means being pivotally connected to said base and operatively connected to said operating member, and means for automatically swinging said'toggle means, when said operating member is released, for depressing said feet against a supporting surface for supporting said base out of contact with said surface.

15. A sad iron including an operating member movably mounted thereon, a base, an operating member carried by said base, toggle means formed with feet, said toggle means being pivotally connected to said base and operatively connected to said operating member, and tensioning means for automatically swinging said toggle means, when said operating member is released,

for depressing said feet against a supporting sur- 7 

